Seal end carton



Jan. 19, 1965 R. J. HlcKlN ETAL 3,166,231

SEAL END CARTON Filed June 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 19, 1965 R. J.HlcKlN ETAL SEAL END CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 19623,166,231 SEAL END CARTON Robert 3. Hitchin, Seville, hio, and Arthur A.ison, Jr.,

Glenview, iii., assignors to Packaging Corporation ofV America,Evanston, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed .lune 6, 1962, Ser. No.260,397

9 Claims. (Cl. 229-37) This invention relates to a seal end carton andmore particularly to the blank from which said carton is formed.

In a seal end carton for the packaging of various products itis ofparamount importance that the ends of said carton be moisture-proof aswell as infestation-proof. One method of obtaining a carton seal endcondition is disclosed in United States Letters Patent 3,007,376 inwhich a non-hardening plastic material is applied to the exposed edgesof the top and/or bottom of the carton formed by the intersectionsbetween the Vend panels and the top and bottom surfaces. To be assuredthat the plastic material will iiow properly along said exposed edges soas to till all voids therein, it is preferred that the outermost sideflap of the top and/or bottom of the carton be provided with the wellknown Van Buren type ears and that such ears be readily folded andsecured to the exposed surfaces of the adjacent end panels of thecarton.

In high speed end-sealing operations, serious problems are oftenencountered in squaring up of the carton just prior to sealing the endthereof. Where in prior cartons, the squaring thereof is not properbefore the side and end tiaps are folded, the securing of the Van Burenears to the adjacent end panel exposed surfaces to effect sealing of thecarton end is seriously impaired. This difficulty stems from the factthat in an unsquared carton a portion of the edge of the overlapped orconcealed side flap projects beyond the plane of the end panel exposedsurface and thus interferes with the folding of the adjacent Van Burenear connected to the outer, or overlapping, side flap.

Furthermore, frequently in prior carton blanks of this general type, theend flaps thereof are of such configuration that they fail to aid inattaining the proper squaring up of the carton prior to the seal endthereof being formed.

In addition many prior carton blanks are of such configuration that alarge amount of material waste is occasioned during the blankingoperation and thus the cost of the carton is substantially increased.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a cartonblank which overcomes the aforementioned short-comings which beset priorblanks of this general type.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a carton blank whichis capable of high speed folding operation and yet permits an effectiveseal end to be formed.

It is a still further object of this invention -to provide a cartonblank which is capable of readily attaining and retaining a true squaredup condition during formation of the carton seal end.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description,accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with Vone embodiment of this invention, a carton blank isprovided which includes a pair of side panels and a pair of end panels,the panels of each pair being alternately arranged in side by siderelation and foldably connected to one another. The side and end panelsform the upright Walls of the setup carton. Transversely extending fromand foldably connected to corresponding peripheral portions of the sidepanels are first and second side flaps which are adapted to assume anoverlapping relation when the carton seal end is formed. The irst sideflap is adapted to overlap the second side 3,166,231 Patented Jan. 19,1965 flap. Transversely extending and foldably connected tocorresponding peripheral portions of the endpanels are end flaps whichare adapted to subtend the folded second side fiap. Extending laterallyfrom the opposite edge portions ofthe iirst side iiap are foldable earswhich are adapted to overlie and be secured to the exposed surfaces ofthe end panels. The edge portion of the second side flap opposite thefoldline of said second side iiap is of lesser dimension than the extentof said foldline With the result that at least one of the edge portionsof the secondV side ap disposed normal to the foldline thereof isrecessed from the projection of Ithe adjacent foldline connecting theside and end panels. The recessed edge portion of the second side ap isspaced inwardly from the adjacent end panel exposed surface when thecarton seal end is formed. i

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should bemade` to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of `one form of the improved cartonblank.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. l but showing rthe carton blank partiallyfolded to form a carton in collapsed condition.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton blank o f FIG. 1in setup condition and just prior to the side flaps being folded intooverlapping relation.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 3 but showingthe second side iiap folded into overlapping relation with respect tosaid end flaps.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view, partially cut away, showing the blank formedinto a carton seal end.

FIG. 6 is a perspective View on reduced scale showing the blank with thetop flaps thereof in seal end condition and the bottom flaps thereofunfolded.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7 7 ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan View of a second form of the improvedcarton blank.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the blank of FIG.8 and showing the latter in a partially folded condition and withportions of the second side flap cut away.

Referring now 4to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 one formof the improved blank 10 is shown which is adapted to be folded to forma seal end carton 11, see FIG. 6. The blank is formed from a sheet orweb of paperboard material. A plurality of spaced parallel foldlines 12,13, 14 and 15 are formed in the blank 10 which are adapted to define anend panel 16, a side panel 17, a second end panel 18, a second sidepanel 20, and a narrow flap 21, commonly referred to as a glue lap. Allof the panels and lap 21 are arranged in parallel side-by-side relation.The end panels 16 and 18 are of like configuration as is also the casewith respect to the side panels 17 and 2t). While in the illustratedembodiment of blank 10, FIG. 1, lap 21 is shown foldably connected toside panel 20, it is to be understood of course that such lap may befoldably connected to end panel 16 instead. Furthermore, the dispositionof the panels within the blank may be changed from that shown, ifdesired; that is to say, the positions of the side panels 17 and 20could be substituted for the positions of end panels 16 and 18,respectively without effecting the operation or function of the blankwhen folded. In addition, in some instances, the glue lap 21 may beomitted entirely from the blank in which case a separate tape, notshown, could be utilized to effect retention of the panels in foldedrelation.

If desired, end panel 18. as illustrated, may be provided with apunch-out area 22 adjacent the upper end thereof. This area is definedon three sides by a weakened scoreline 23. The provision of thepunch-out area 22 is com- E monly employed in seal end cartons tofacilitate dispensing of the product from the carton by the consumer.

Foldably connected to the upper peripheral portions of panels Id-IS and20 by foldlines 24-27 are flaps 28, 3tl- 32 respectively. Flaps 2S and31 are commonly referred to as end flaps and flaps 30 and 32 in turn arecommonly referred to as side flaps. As will be more fully describedhereinafter, end and side flaps are adapted to be folded relative to oneanother so as to close off the end of the carton.

Side flap 30 in theillustrated embodiment is the outermost, or exposedflap when they carton end is closed. Connected by foldlines 33 and 34 atopposite peripheral portions of side llap 30 are laterally extendingears 35 and 36, which are commonly referred to as Van Buren type ears.When the carton seal end is formed, see FIG 6, the ears 35 and 36overlie and are secured to the upper portion of the exposed surfaces ofend panels 16 and l respectively. Ear 36 is` adapted to completelyoverlie the punch-out area 22 of end panel 18. It will be noted in FIG.l that the ears are formed from the adjacent end flaps and two sides ofeach ear 35 and 36 are separated from the respective end flap 28 or 3lby cutting scorelines or slits 37 and 38. Thus, one side edge portion ofeach end llap 28 and 3l is deformed or cut back by the amount that theear 35 or 36 extends laterally from side iiap 3l).

Side flap 32, which is the inner flap and is overlapped by side flapl30, when the carton sealed end is formed, has the outer edge 40 thereof,opposite foldline 27 of lesser dimension than the extent of suchfoldline. By reason of this fact, at least one edge portion 41 of flap32 is recessed, or both edge portions 4l and 42 are recessed, whereby,when the iiaps are folded to close the carton end, one or both edgeportions will be spaced inwardly from the piane of the exposed end panelsurface notwithstanding that the carton should not attain a true squaredup condition prior to the ears 35 and 36 being folded down and securedto such end panel surfaces. Thus, the edge portions 41 and 42 will notinterfere with the proper folding of the ears and therefore such earswill elfect proper squeezing and flowing of the non-hardening plasticmaterial 39, see FIG. 7, applied at the carton edges in the mannerdescribed in the aforenoted United States patent.

In the form of blank shown in FIG. l both edge portions flll and 42 arerecessed. For reasons to be hereinafter enumerated it isV essential thatedge portion ell be recessed because in the manner in which panels arefolded relative to one another there is an inherent tendency for thecarton to become distorted in one direction only. The extent to whichedge portion 4l is recessed with respect to the projection 14a offoldline I4 may vary toQconsiderable degree. It will be noted forexample in FIG. l that the sement dla of the edge portion 4l, that isthe segment adjacent the outer edge portion 40 or remote from foldlineV27, is recessed a lesser amount than the central segment dfb of theedge portion 41. The reason for segment die being of lesser recess isthat it will provide a smaller size void at the corner lla of the setupcarton, see FIG. 5, in which the subsequently applied nonhardeningplastic material 39 is required to lill. The applied plastic material ispossessed of an inherent characteristic that it Willflow under pressureand thus ll any voids in the carton edge so as to render the carton edgemoisture and infestation proof.

In the modified blank 10. shown in FIG. 8 the various parts thereofcomparable to those of blank 10 will be similar numbered except for theprime designation. The outer segmentdla of the edge portion 41 of blank10 is recessed the same amount as the central segment dlb with respectto the projection Ma of foldline 14. Aside from this difference, blanksI0 and 10 are the same in other respects. With most types of plasticsealing materials applied to edge of the carton in the manner set forthin the aforementioned United States patent, the

plasicity thereof is such that the material will readily flow and tillup such voids formed in the carton edge when pressure is applied to theplastic material as the ears 35, 35 and 36, 36 are folded into securedposition with respect to the exposed surfaces of the adjacent endpanels.

It will be noted in either blank It) or 10' that the edge portion 43 ord3 of end flap 3l or 31 which edge portion is disposed normal to the endflap foldline 26 Vor Z6', is

substantially rectilineark and is axially aligned with the foldline 14or lli between end panel 18 or 18 and side panel 2@ or Ztl". Likewise,the corresponding edge portion elfi or 4d of end flap 2S or 28 is alsosubstantially rectilinear and aligned with peripheral edge d5 or d5' ofend panel le or le. The rectilinear configuration of these edge portionsof the end flaps aid materially in attaining and retaining the setupcarton in a squared condition. This aid is effected, when the end flapsare folded, by reason of the rectilinear edge portions frictionallyengaging the inside of the foldline 27 or 27' for side flap 52 or 32 andthus serve to resist the carton becoming distorted or out-of-square,seeV FIGS. 3 and 5.

The width or' shape of slot de or 46 formed by reason of the recessingof flap edge portion dl or dl' may vary from that shown but will bedetermined in large measure by the ability of the blanking machine toreadily remove the strip of paperboard so as to form the slot.

The bottom closing fiaps 47, 48, 5t? and 5l, see FIG. 6, are normallynot provided with recessed edge portions or Van Buren type ears, becausethe problem of effecting a proper adhesive bond between the folded apsis not generally acute because oftentimes the forming of the closedbottom end is done about a mandrel inserted within the carton interior,before the latter is filled with the desired product. If desired,however, the bottom tlaps may assume the same configuration as thecorresponding top flaps.

In forming the seal end of the carton, an adhesive is rst applied to theupper surfaces of the folded end flaps prior to side flap 32 beingfolded thereover. An adhesive is then applied to either the uppersurface of the folded side flap 32 or the concealed surface of the outerflap 3l) prior to the latter being folded into overlapping relationwithflap 32. The non-hardening plastic material 39 is then applied underears 35 and 36 along foldlines 33 and 34. The ears are then folded downand adhesively secured to the exposed surface of the adjacent end panel.The foregoing steps are normally carried out by automaticmachinery.

As shown in FiG. 7, to provide access to the interior of the seal endcarton, the consumer merely presses inwardly on ear 36 or 36 which, inturn, causes the punchout areay 22 of panel 18 to break away from thepanel along weakened scoreline 23. `With ear 36 and the adhesivelyattached area 22 in the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7, thecontents 52 of the carton may be dispensed through the resulting openingformed in the pane l.

The side flaps 3@ and 32, or 30 and 32 of the illustrated blanksV l0 and1d are of such dimension, taken normal to the their foldlines, that theyspan completely theV distance between the side panels when the carton isset up. This dimensiomif desired, may be varied and in addition thelength of the end flaps taken normal to their foldlines may also bevaried from that shown without departing from the scope of thisinvention. It is understood, of course, that the configuration of thepanels may also be varied from that shown. l

Thus, it will be seen that an improved carton and carton blank have beenprovided which. are not beset with the aforenotedV shortcomingsIassociated with prior structures. The-improved blank facilitates'theformation Of a seal end, and results in :a minimum of waste materialduring the blanking operation.

While several embodiments of the invention have heretofore beenillustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention isnot to be limited thereto, as further and additional modifications maybe made without departing from the scope of such invention.

We claim:

1. A fol-dable carton blank for use in forming a seal end carton, saidblank comprising a pair of side panels and a pair of end panels, thepanels of one pair being alternately arranged in side by side relationwith the panels of the other pair and being foldably connected theretoto cooperate with one another to form upright walls of the carton;transversely extending first and second side aps foldably connected tocorresponding peripheral portions of said side panels, said rst sideflap being foldable into overlapping relation with respect to saidsecond side llap; transversely extending end flaps foldably connected tocorresponding peripheral portions of said end panels, said end aps whenfolded being adopted to subtend said second side flap, an edge portionof one of said end aps adjacent said second side flap being separatedtherefrom by a slot; and ears extending laterally from oppositeperipheral portions of said first side flap, said ears being adapted tooverlie and be secured to the end panel exposed surfaces when the cartonseal end is formed; said second side flap having the edge portionthereof opposite the foldably connected edge portion thereof of lesserdimension than said foldably connected edge portion whereby theslot-forming edge portion of said second side hap will have the segmentthereof remote from the foldline of said second side flap recessed andspaced from the adjacent ear when the latter is folded and secured tothe end panel exposed surface.

2. The carton blank recited in claim 1 wherein the dimension of eachside flap taken normal to the line of fold therefor is substantiallyequal to the spacing between the side panels when the carton seal end isformed.

3. The carton blank recited in claim 2 wherein each end flap has anelongated edge portion engaging the line of fold of said second sideflap, when the carton seal end is formed.

4. The carton blank recited in claim 1 wherein the slot-forming edgeportion of said one end flap is aligned with a line of fold between saidside and end panels and the slot-forming edge portion of said secondside flap remote from the foldline of said second side flap is recessedfrom the projection of said line of fold.

5. The carton blank recited in claim 4 wherein the recess of theslot-forming edge portion of said second side flap is greatest at acentral segment of said slotforming edge portion.

6. A seal end carton comprising a pair of oppositely disposed endpanels, a pair of oppositely disposed side panels foldably connected tosaid end panels and forming the upright walls of said carton, side flapsfoldably connected to said side panels and arranged in overlappingrelation, end aps foldably connected to said end panels and folded intosubtending relation with the innermost of said overlapping side aps, andlaterally extending ears foldably connected to the outermost of saidoverlapping side aps and folded into overlapping relation with andsecured to the exposed surfaces of said adjacent end panels; the edgeportion of the innermost side flap opposite the foldline thereof beingof lesser dimension than the extent of said foldline whereby at leastone of the edge portions of said innermost side flap, adjacent one ofsaid ears, is recessed inwardly from the plane of the exposed end panelsurface to which said one ear is secured, whereby the said edge portionof the innermost side ap wil1 not obstruct the folding of the saidadjacent one ear into overlapping and secured relation with respect tothe exposed end panel surface.

7. rThe seal end carton recited in claim 6 wherein the recessed edgeportion of said innermost side flap has a greater recess at the centralsegment thereof.

8. The seal end carton recited in claim 6 wherein each end flap has arectilinear edge portion which is in engagement with the foldline ofsaid innermost side flap.

9. The seal end carton recited in claim 6 wherein each edge portion ofthe innermost side flap adjacent the ecured ear is recessed inwardlyfrom the plane of the exposed end panel surface to which said ear issecured.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,412,031 12/ 46Bergstein 229-37 2,506,057 5/50 Bergstein 229--35 2,665,837 1/54 Guyer229-37 2,98 3,421 5/61 Turpin 229--17 3,007,376 1l/6l Hickin 229-37 X3,084,845 4/63 Myers 220-38 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

1. A FOLDABLE CARTON BLANK FOR USE IN FORMING A SEAL END CARTON, SAIDBLANK COMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE PANELS AND A PAIR OF END PANELS, THEPANELS OF ONE PAIR BEING ALTERNATELY ARRANGED IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATIONWITH THE PANELS OF THE OTHER PAIR AND BEING FOLDABLY CONNECTED THERETOTO COOPERATE WITH ONE ANOTHER TO FORM UPRIGHT WALLS OF THE CARTON;TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING FIRST AND SECOND SIDE FLAPS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TOCORRESPONDING PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE PANELS, SAID FIRST SIDEFLAP BEING FOLDABLE INTO OVERLAPPING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAIDSECOND SIDE FLAP; TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING END FLAPS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TOCORRESPONDING PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF SAID END PANELS, SAID END FLAPSWHEN FOLDED BEING ADOPTED TO SUBTEND SAID SECOND SIDE FLAP, AN EDGEPORTION OF ONE OF SAID END FLAPS ADJACENT SAID SECOND SIDE FLAP BEINGSEPARATED THEREFROM BY A SLOT; AND EARS EXTENDING LATERALLY FROMOPPOSITE PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST SIDE FLAP, SAID EARS BEINGADAPTED TO OVERLIE AND BE SECURED TO THE END PANEL EXPOSED SURFACES WHENTHE CARTON SEAL END IS FORMED; SAID SECOND SIDE FLAP HAVING THE EDGEPORTION THEREOF OPPOSITE THE FOLDABLY CONNECTED EDGE PORTION THEREOF OFLESSER DIMENSION THAN SAID FOLDABLY CONNECTED EDGE PORTION WHEREBY THESLOT-FORMING EDGE PORTION OF SAID SECOND SIDE FLAP WILL HAVE THE SEGMENTTHEREOF REMOTE FROM THE FOLDLINE OF SAID SECOND SIDE FLAP RECESSED ANDSPACED FROM THE ADJACENT EAR WHEN THE LATTER IS FOLDED AND SECURED TOTHE END PANEL EXPOSED SURFACE.